A Catechism 

on 

Catholic  Foreign  Missions 


Published  by 

Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith 

25  Granby  Street,  Boston,  Mass.  , 

— ..  — * 


FOREWORD. 

This  Catechism  contains  elementary  in- 
formation on  Catholic  Foreign  Missions.  It  is 
made  up  of  simple  answers  to  questions  put  to 
the  compiler  upon  the  occasion  of  his  visits  to 
the  various  parishes  of  the  Boston  Archdiocese 
in  the  interests  of  the  Missions.  The  purpose 
of  the  booklet  is  to  win  friends  for  the  cause 
that  is  dearest  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus. 
May  He  be  praised,  loved,  adored  and  glorified 
by  every  creature  I 


Nihil  Obstat 


PATRICK  J.  WATERS.  PH.  D. 
Censor  Librorum 


Imprimatur 

WILLIAM,  CARDINAL  O’CONNELL, 
Archbishop  of  Boston 


Copyright.  1015.  by  Rev  Joseph  F.  McCImncHky.  D.D 


CHAPTER  I 


THE  MISSIONARY 

What  do  you  mean  by  a missionary? 

A missionary  is  one  specially  sent  by  God  to  carry 
the  message  of  the  Gospel  to  those  who  have  not  yet 
received  the  glad  tidings. 

How  many  kinds  of  missionaries  are  there? 

Two  kinds — home  and  foreign  missionaries. 

What  do  you  mean  by  a home  missionary? 

One  who  labors  to  make  Christ’s  teachings  known  in 
a Christian  country,  usually  his  native  land. 

What  do  you  mean  by  a foreign  missionary? 

One,  not  a native,  who  preaches  the  Gospel  in  pagan 
and  heathen  lands. 

What  are  pagan  and  heathen  lands? 

Countries  where  the  majority  of  the  population  does 
not  worship  the  one,  true  God. 

What  is  the  difference  between  a pagan  and  a 
heathen? 

A pagan  is  a worshipper  of  idols  or  false  gods.  A 
heathen  is  one  who  is  ignorant  of  divine  revelation. 

What  part  of  the  world’s  population  is  pagan  and 
heathen? 

Two-thirds,  or  one  billion  souls. 

How  are  these  people  distributed? 

China,  450,000,000;  India,  300,000,000;  Africa, 

200.000. 000;  Japan,  40,000,000;  other  countries, 

10.000. 000. 

Are  foreign  missionaries  always  priests? 

No.  Strictly  speaking,  a missionary  is  a priest, 
but  the  name  is  also  applied  to  Brothers  and  Sisters 
who,  as  in  Christian  countries,  help  the  priests  and 
work  under  their  direction. 

Are  the  majority  of  missionaries  priests? 

No.  They  are  divided  as  follows:  15,000  priests, 
5,000  Brothers  and  45,000  Sisters. 

Are  foreign  missionaries  secular  priests  or  mem- 
bers of  religious  orders? 

There  are  both  secular  priests  and  members  of  relig- 
ious orders  on  the  missions,  but  the  latter  are  much 
more  numerous. 


1 


To  what  nationalities  do  foreign  missionaries 
belong? 

They  represent  every  Christian  nation. 

What  nation  has  supplied  the  greatest  number  of 
foreign  missionaries? 

France.  She  has  furnished  about  sixty  per  cent  of 
them,  and  has  contributed  more  alms  for  their  support 
than  any  other  nation. 

Does  America  furnish  many  foreign  missionaries? 

Up  to  the  present,  her  contribution  has  been  very 
small.  But  since  we  now  have  apostolic  schools  and 
seminaries  to  prepare  young  people  for  this  life,  it  is 
to  be  hoped  our  country  will  do  her  share. 


CHAPTER  II 

HIS  TRAINING  AND  LIFE 

How  long  is  the  period  of  preparation  for  a mis- 
sionary? 

It  depends  upon  the  amount  of  education  one  has 
upon  entering  the  apostolic  school  or  seminary. 

Must  a missionary  be  as  well  trained  and  edu- 
cated as  a priest  at  home? 

Yes.  If  possible,  he  should  be  better  equipped, 
because  there  are  not  the  same  facilities  for  study 
and  reference  on  the  missions  as  at  home.  More- 
over, he  requires  a special  preparation  for  his  work. 

In  what  does  this  special  preparation  consist? 

In  a knowledge  of  the  modern  languages,  medicine, 
social  science,  agriculture  and  building. 

Does  a missionary  know  where  he  will  be  sent 
after  he  is  ordained? 

In  a general  way,  he  knows  he  will  be  sent  where 
the  order  or  college  to  which  he  belongs  has  missions, 
but  he  has  no  definite  knowledge  as  to  the  field  of  his 
life’s  work. 

Do  missionaries  ever  return  to  their  homes? 

Yes,  sometimes  for  reasons  of  health  or  to  collect 
alms,  but  as  a rule  they  do  not.  There  are  many 
missionaries  who  have  been  thirty  and  forty  years 
at  their  posts  without  once  returning  home. 

Is  it  true  that  missionaries  do  not  live  long? 

No.  While  the  life  is  hard  and  offers  few  material 
comforts,  the  average  length  of  a missionary’s  life  is 
2 


no  shorter  than  that  of  his  brother  priest  at  home.  In 
certain  mission  districts,  however,  owing  to  climatic 
conditions,  the  death  rate  is  very  high. 

Why  is  the  life  of  a missionary  considered  hard? 

Because  of  the  many  privations,  hardships  and 
difficulties  of  dealing  with  the  natives. 

What  are  some  of  the  privations? 

Isolation,  separation  from  one’s  relatives,  friend* 
and  country;  abandonment  of  many  of  the  manners 
and  customs  of  one’s  native  land. 

Do  missionaries  ever  become  accustomed  to  these 
privations? 

Yes.  This  is  one  of  the  special  graces  of  their  voca- 
tion. 

Are  missionaries  really  happy? 

Yes.  Among  them  are  to  be  found  some  of  the 
happiest  men  and  women  in  the  world. 

How  can  this  be  possible? 

They  are  happy  in  the  knowledge  that  they  are 
carrying  out  the  command  of  Christ — “Go,  teach 
all  nations.” 

Do  missionaries  live  like  the  natives  among 
whom  they  work? 

Yes,  to  a great  extent,  as  this  brings  them  in  closer 
touch  with  the  people. 

Does  a missionary  ever  live  alone? 

A missionary  Sister  never  lives  alone.  Two  or 
three  Sisters  are  always  found  together  even  in  the 
very  small  stations.  Missionary  priests,  especiall> 
members  of  religious  orders,  are  never  found  alone 
unless,  owing  to  the  scarcity  of  priests,  it  is  impossible 
to  make  this  arrangement. 

Do  missionaries  travel  much? 

Yes,  they  find  it  very  necessary  in  caring  for  their 
extensive  districts.  In  many  places,  it  takes  most  of 
their  time  to  visit  the  different  stations  under  their 
charge.  They  are  often  away  from  the  central  station 
months  at  a time. 


CHAPTER  III 

HIS  WORK  OFTEN  REPULSIVE 
Do  missionaries  penetrate  into  the  interior  of 
pagan  lands? 

Yes,  they  are  to  be  found  living  in  the  midst  of  wild 
and  savage  tribes,  far  removed  from  civilization. 

3 


Are  many  missions  established  among  savage 
tribes? 

Yes,  a great  number. 

Where  are  some  of  these? 

In  various  sections  of  Africa,  India,  Oceania  and  the 
Philippines. 

To  what  extent  are  these  people  savage? 

They  hunt  heads,  and  eat  human  flesh.  Bishop 
Bertreux,  of  the  Solomon  Islands,  tells  of  a native  chief, 
who  proudly  boasts  that  he  has  killed,  roasted  and  eaten 
six  hundred  human  beings. 

Do  missionaries  ever  succeed  in  converting 
cannibals? 

Yes,  and  when  a chief  is  converted,  all  his  subjects 
usually  follow  his  example. 

Are  many  missions  established  among  the  lepers? 

Yes,  they  are  particularly  numerous  in  tropical 
climes,  like  Africa,  India,  Southern  China  and  the 
Islands  of  the  Pacific. 

How  large  are  these  leper  asylums? 

They  have  from  a hundred  to  three  thousand  inmates. 

Is  not  the  work  of  caring  for  the  lepers  very 
repulsive? 

Yes,  it  is  the  most  disagreeable  work  that  the  mis- 
sions offer,  but  through  it  souls  are  saved,  and  this  is 
sufficient  reason  for  both  priests  and  Sisters  to  per- 
form the  most  loathsome  tasks. 

Do  not  the  missionaries  who  engage  in  the  work 
of  caring  for  the  lepers  receive  a special  grace 
from  God? 

It  would  seem  so,  from  the  fact  that  there  are  to  be 
found  in  this  work  priests  and  Sisters,  who  having 
been  brought  up  in  homes  of  culture,  refinement  and 
even  luxury,  cheerfully  devote  their  lives  to  these 
most  abandoned  of  God’s  creatures. 


CHAPTER  IV 

HIS  MEANS  OF  SUPPORT 

A.  The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith. 

- 1.  ORGANIZATION. 

How  are  missionaries  supported? 

The  greater  part  of  their  support  comes  from  the  two 
great  Mission  Aid  Organizations — the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Faith  and  the  Association  of  the 
Holy  Childhood. 


4 


Give  a brief  history  of  the  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Faith. 

It  was  established  in  1822,  by  a pious  French  woman, 
Pauline  Jaricot,  in  order  to  assist  Bishop  Duboure,  of 
New  Orleans,  La.,  and  the  modest  receipts  (four  thou- 
sand dollars)  of  the  first  year,  were  so  multiplied  that, 
during  1913,  the  Society  dispersed  over  a million  and 
a half  dollars  throughout  the  pagan  and  heathen 
world. 

How  is  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Faith  organized? 

In  each  diocese  where  the  Society  is  established, 
a Diocesan  Director  is  appointed  by  the  Bishop.  By 
sermons  and  illustrated  lectures,  he  interests  the  faith- 
ful in  mission  work,  and,  after  his  visit  to  a parish,  a 
Parochial  or  Local  Director  is  assigned  under  whose 
immediate  supervision  the  work  is  carried  on.  The 
latter  holds  monthly  meetings  for  the  collectors,  and 
any  others  who  may  wish  to  attend,  and  sends  the  re- 
turns to  the  Diocesan  Office. 

What  is  a Diocesan  Office? 

An  office  where  a Diocesan  Director  and  his  assist- 
ants labor  in  the  interest  of  the  missions.  Here  they 
meet  all  those  who  wish  to  inquire  about  the  work  or 
make  offerings,  and  answer  the  correspondence.  Au 
Exhibition  Hall  is  attached,  containing  curios  from 
all  parts  of  the  mission  field. 

How  does  one  become  affiliated  with  the 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith? 

The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith  has 
three  kinds  of  membership — Ordinary,  Special  and 
Perpetual. 

, What  do  you  mean  by  an  Ordinary  Member? 

One  who  makes  a monthly  offering  of  five  cents  and 
recites  daily  an  Our  Father,  Hail  Mary  and  the  invo- 
cation, “Saint  Francis  Xavier,  pray  for  us.” 

To  whom  does  one  pay  this  monthly  offering? 

If  the  Society  exists  in  his  parish,  he  pays  his  ordi- 
nary membership  to  a Promoter;  if  there  is  no  branch 
of  the  Society  in  his  parish,  he  sends  it  to  the  Diocesan 
Office. 

What  do  you  mean  by  a Promoter? 

One  who  collects  the  monthly  dues,  five  cents,  of 
ten  Ordinary  Members.  A year’s  dues,  sixty  cents, 
may  be  paid  at  once. 


5 


To  whom  do  Promoters  make  returns? 

If  the  Society  is  organized  in  the  parish,  to  the  priest 
in  charge;  if  not,  to  the  Diocesan  Director;  in  case 
there  is  no  Diocesan  Director,  to  the  National  Director, 
in  New  York. 

Are  the  members  assigned  to  Promoters? 

No,  they,  secure  their  own  members. 

How  does  one  become  a Special  Member? 

By  making  an  offering  of  fifty  cents  a month  or  six 
dollars  a year,  and  reciting  daily  the  above  prayers. 
A Special  Member  is  entitled  to  enroll  nine  others 
besides  himself. 

What  do  you  mean  by  a Perpetual  Member? 

One  who  contributes  in  one  payment  (or  installments 

during  the  period  of  one  year)  the  sum  of  forty  dollars, 

and  recites  the  above  prayers. 

What  is  the  advantage  of  becoming  a Perpetual 
Member? 

The  principal  advantage  is  that  the  Perpetual  Mem- 
ber shares  in  the  spiritual  benefits  of  the  Society  from 
the  time  the  first  payment  is  made  as  long  as  there  is 
a priest  in  the  mission  field. 

Another  advantage  is  that  he  himself  makes  pro- 
vision for  his  soul  instead  of  leaving  this  important 
matter  to  others,  who  may  fail  to  attend  to  it. 

To  whom  do  Special  and  Perpetual  Members 
make  their  offerings? 

They  may  make  them  either  to  the  Parochial  or 
to  the  Diocesan  Director. 

May  deceased  persons  be  enrolled? 

Certainly,  in  any  of  the  three  classes. 

2.  SPIRITUAL  ADVANTAGES. 

What  are  the  spiritual  benefits  for  the  members 
of  this  Society? 

A share  in  the  conversions,  prayers  and  other  good 
works  of  the  65,000  Catholic  foreign  missionaries  in 
the  field;  a share  in  15,000  Masses  offered  yearly  by 
missionary  priests;  and  a great  number  of  indulgences, 
both  plenary  and  partial. 

Is  this  not  a large  number  of  Masses  to  promise 
annually  ? 

Yes,  but  without  doubt  the  actual  number  exceeds 
15,000.  Each  of  the  15,000  priests  depending  upon  the 

6 


Society  for  his  maintenance  is  obliged  to  say  one  Mass 
annually  for  the  members  of  the  Society,  but  it  is  likely 
that  he  gives  them  a memento  in  every  Mass  he  offers. 
Hence,  we  may  suppose  with  good  reason  that  all 
members  share  in  over  three  hundred  times  15,000 
Masses. 

On  what  days  may  the  plenary  indulgences  be 
gained? 

May  3,  the  Feast  of  the  Finding  of  the  Holy  Cross 
(the  day  on  which  the  Society  was  established): 
December  3,  the  Feast  of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  Patron  of 
the  Society;  March  25,  the  Feast  of  the  Annunciation; 
August  15,  the  Feast  of  the  Assumption;  or  any  day 
within  the  Octaves  of  these  Feasts;  January  6,  the 
Feast  of  the  Epiphany;  September  29,  the  Feast 
of  St.  Michael;  all  Feasts  of  the  Apostles;  at  the  hour 
of  death,  by  invoking  the  Sacred  Name  of  Jesus. 

The  above  are  the  principal  days  for  gaining  plenary 
indulgences. 

When  may  partial  indulgences  be  gained? 

An  indulgence  of  seven  years  and  seven  quarantines 
each  time  a member  performs,  in  aid  of  the  Society, 
any  work  of  devotion  or  charity;  one  of  300  days  when- 
ever a member  recites  an  Our  Father  and  Hail  Mary, 
together  with  the  invocation,  “Saint  Francis  Xavier, 
pray  for  us.” 

All  indulgences  are  applicable  to  the  Suffering  Souls. 

Do  Ordinary  and  Special  Members  enjoy  the 
same  spiritual  advantages  as  Perpetual  Mem- 
bers? 

Yes,  the  advantages  are  the  same,  the  only  difference 
being  the  length  of  time  during  which  they  are  enjoyed. 

3.  DISTRIBUTION  OF  FUNDS. 

How  much  has  the  Society  distributed  to  the  mis- 
sions since  its  foundation? 

Eighty-three  millions  of  dollars. 

How  is  this  distribution  made? 

The  members  of  the  Central  Council  at  Lyons  and 
Paris  determine  from  the  reports  of  the  Bishops, 
Vicars  Apostolic  and  Prefects  Apostolic  how  much 
should  be  sent  to  each  missionary  district  and  these 
allowances  are  remitted  semi-annually,  or  annually. 

Where  is  this  money  sent? 

Most  of  it  is  sent  to  heathen  and  pagan  lands,  such 
as  China,  Japan,  India,  Africa,  Oceania,  etc. 

7 


How  much  is  sent  to  the  United.  States? 

Very  little  now,  but  there  is  hardly  a part  of  this 
country  which  the  Society  has  not  assisted.  As  early  as 
1829,  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Boston  received  help. 

How  much  have  we  actually  received  from  the 
Society? 

Since  its  establishment,  the  Society  has  contributed 
to  the  now  flourishing  dioceses  in  the  United  States  over 
six  millions  of  dollars. 

How  much  have  we  given  in  return? 

The  United  States  has  given  to  the  Society  during 
this  period  about  three  millions  of  dollars.  Of  course, 
our  indebtedness  is  now  being  rapidly  cancelled  by  the 
generous  contributions  coming  annually  from  our 
country. 

When  was  the  Society  introduced  into  the 
United  States? 

It  was  introduced  in  1840,  but  only  since  1898  have 
special  efforts  been  made  to  induce  Americans  to  join 
this  noble  crusade. 

What  do  you  mean  by  special  efforts? 

The  opening  of  a Diocesan  Office  and  the  appoint- 
ment of  a Diocesan  Director,  whose  sole  duty  is  to 
labor  in  the  interest  of  Foreign  Missions. 

Which  was  the  first  diocese  in  the  United  States 
to  establish  the  Society  in  this  way? 

The  Archdiocese  of  Boston,  in  1898.  New  York  fol- 
lowed in  1904,  Philadelphia  in  1913,  and  Albany  in  1916. 

Do  all  Diocesan  Directors  give  their  entire  time 
to  the  work  of  the  missions? 

No,  only  those  of  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and 
Albany. 

B.  Association  of  the  Holy  Childhood. 

1.  MEMBERSHIP  AND  SPIRITUAL  BENEFITS. 

What  is  the  Association  of  the  Holy  Childhood? 

A society  similar  to  that  of  the  Propagation  of  the 
Faith,  whose  membership  consists  principally  of  children 
and  whose  purpose  is  to  save  and  educate  pagan  and 
heathen  children. 

When  and  by  whom  was  it  founded? 

In  1843,  about  twenty  years  after  the  Society  for  the 
Propagation  of  the  Faith,  by  Bishop  Janson  of  Nancy, 
France. 


8 


How  is  the  Association  of  the  Holy  Childhood 
organized? 

Since  this  Society  is  chiefly  for  children,  the  teachers 
of  the  Parochial  and  Sunday  Schools  direct  the  work. 
They  collect  the  dues,  and  in  every  way  possible  try 
to  stimulate  the  children  to  take  an  active  interest  in 
the  work  of  the  Association. 

The  money  thus  collected  is  remitted  monthly  to  the 
Diocesan  Director. 

What  is  the  membership  fee  in  this  Association? 

Ordinary  members  pay  one  cent  a month,  or  twelve 
cents  a year. 

Are  there  other  kinds  of  members? 

Yes,  Perpetual  Members,  as  in  the  Propagation  of 

the  Faith. 

How  much  does  a Perpetual  Member  contribute? 

Twenty  dollars  once. 

Are  there  any  special  prayers  to  be  said? 

If  the  child  enrolled  is  old  enough,  he  or  she  should 
say  one  Hail  Mary  and  the  invocation,  “Holy  Virgin 
Mary,  pray  for  us  and  for  poor  pagan  children.” 

What  are  the  spiritual  benefits  to  be  gained  from 
membership  in  this  Association? 

In  general,  the  same  as  those  of  the  Propagation 
of  the  Faith  Society — a share  in  the  good  works  of  all 
the  missionaries  aided  by  the  Association;  a share  in 
the  Masses  offered  by  missionary  priests;  and  many 
indulgences. 

When  may  these  indulgences  be  gained? 

Plenary  indulgences  may  be  gained  on  the  feasts 
of  the  Patron  Saints  of  the  Association— the  Presenta- 
tion of  Marj’,  the  feasts  of  St.  Joseph,  the  Holy  Angels, 
St.  Francis  Xavier  and  St.  Vincent  de  Paul. 

There  are  also  many  Partial  Indulgences. 

What  are  the  conditions  for  gaining  these  Plen- 
ary Indulgences? 

For  adult  members  (those  who  are  also  members 
of  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith)  the  usual  conditions  of 
confession,  Communion  and  prayers  for  the  Holy 
Father’s  intentions;  children,  who  have  not  made  their 
First  Communion,  need  only  pray  for  the  Holy  Father’s 
intentions. 


9 


2.  RESCUING  HEATHEN  CHILDREN. 


Is  there  any  other  nay  of  helping  the  missions 
through  this  Association  besides  the  payment 
of  membership  dues? 

A most  popular  way  is  to  contribute  five  dollars  to 
“buy”  a heathen  child,  the  donor  having  the  privilege 
of  choosing  the  name  given  the  child  in  Baptism. 

Why  are  pagan  children  so  much  in  need  of  help? 

In  many  mission  countries,  the  life  of  an  infant, 
especially  a female,  is  considered  of  little  value,  hence 
countless  parents  abandon  or  destroy  their  offspring, 
either  because  they  have  no  love  for  them  or  because 
they  are  so  poor  that  they  have  no  means  of  support- 
ing them. 

How  do  they  destroy  them? 

The  means  used  are  not  only  barbarous  but  inhu- 
man and  unnatural.  The  usual  way  is  by  drowning, 
but  many  infants  are  smothered,  buried  alive  or  thrown 
to  dogs  and  pigs  who  speedily  devour  them,  as  is  the 
case  in  China,  Japan,  India,  and  Africa. 

How  do  missionaries  save  these  infants? 

They  purchase  them  for  a very  small  amount, 
sometimes  as  small  as  ten  cents,  and  then  bring  them 
up  as  Christians  in  their  various  charitable  institutions. 

About  how  many  of  these  institutions  are  sup- 
ported by  the  Holy  Childhood? 

Orphanages,  1,500;  schools,  12,000;  workshops, 
5,000. 

How  many  children  are  thus  saved  and  educated 
annually? 

About  600,000. 

How  many  little  ones  has  the  Association  sent 
directly  to  heaven? 

Twenty  million.  One  Sister  in  China  with  the 
aid  of  her  assistants  baptized  3,000  dying  infants 
during  1913. 

Are  the  missionaries  always  able  to  purchase  the 
infants  offered  them? 

No,  they  very  often  have  to  refuse  them,  because 
they  cannot  afford  to  pay  even  the  small  price  asked, 
or,  more  frequently,  because  they  have  not  the  means 
to  support  them. 


10 


What  becomes  of  the  waifs  who  are  admitted  into 
the  orphanages? 

About  ninety  per  cent  die  from  previous  lack  of 
care,  exposure,  etc.  The  ten  per  cent  that  live  are 
well  instructed  in  the  Faith,  taught  to  be  self-support- 
ing, and  when  they  become  of  age,  are  married  to 
Christians. 

What  becomes  of  the  blind  and  deformed? 

They  are  kept  by  the  Sisters,  who  provide  for  their 
support  often  during  their  entire  lifetime. 

Have  the  orphanages  many  inmates? 

Yes,  some  contain  over  a thousand  children. 

How  are  the  verg  goung  infants  cared  for? 

Nurses  take  charge  of  the  youngest  infants  at  their 
own  homes  and  report  monthly  to  the  Sisters,  from 
whom  they  receive  six  dollars  a year  for  their  services. 

How  much  does  it  cost  to  support  a child  at  an 
orphanage? 

A few  cents  a day,  just  enough  to  pay  for  a small 
portion  of  rice. 

Have  these  two  Societies  any  official  organs? 

Yes.  Each  prints  a very  interesting  bi-monthly 
magazine  called  the  “Annals.” 

C.  Appeals  and  Gifts. 

Besides  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith  and  the 
Holy  Childhood,  are  there  any  other  means  of 
support  for  the  missionaries? 

Catholic  newspapers  and  magazines  make  appeals 
in  their  behalf;  some  receive  aid  from  relatives  and 
friends;  occasionally,  a missionary  returns  to  Christian 
countries  in  order  to  collect  funds  for  his  special  district. 

Is  the  majority  of  missionaries  helped  by  such 
means? 

No.  Naturally,  only  those  who  can  make  elo- 
quent appeals,  or  have  generous  friends,  receive  assist- 
ance through  these  methods. 

What  advantage  over  these  methods  has  that 
used  by  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith  and  the 
Holy  Childhood? 

A more  even  distribution  of  funds  is  made  and  more 
missionaries  are  assisted.  For  these  reasons,  it  is  far 
better  to  send  aid  to  the  missionaries  through  these 
Societies. 


11 


But  when  one  sends  money  through  these  Socie-  c 
ties,  has  he  the  right  to  determine  where  it 
goes  and  for  what  it  is  used? 

If  the  money  represents  membership  of  any  kind, 
no;  if  it  is  a gift,  the  donor  may  specify  the  purpose 
and  the  recipient. 

Of  what  do  “gifts”  to  the  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Faith  and  the  Holy  Childhood 
consist? 

Donations  of  money  (any  amount,  according  to  one’s 
means)  for  the  erection  of  chapels,  hospitals,  etc.,  or  H 
for  the  education  of  seminarians;  chalices,  mon- 
strances and  other  sacred  vessels  or  any  of  the  various 
requisites  for  the  altar— -in  fact,  anything  that  will  be 
useful  to  the  missionaries. 

Are  sacred  vessels,  such  as  chalices,  ciboria, 
monstrances,  expensive? 

No.  A good,  serviceable  chalice  or  ciborium  bearing 
the  initials  of  the  donor  may  be  purchased  for  fif-  || 
teen  or  twenty  dollars.  One  Diocesan  Office  sent  over 
five  hundred  chalices  to  the  missions  during  the 
last  three  years.  They  are  very  acceptable  gifts,  for 
the  missionaries  are  often  obliged  to  use  vessels  that 
are  not  fit  for  the  celebration  of  Holy  Mass. 

A good  monstrance  costs  thirty-two  dollars. 

How  much  does  a mission  chapel  cost? 

From  $500  to  $2,000.  There  are  a great  many 
of  these  chapels  in  the  mission  field  erected  by  bene- 
factors in  memory  of  departed  relatives  and  friends.  H 
As  a rule,  the  chapel  is  dedicated  to  the  patron  saint 
of  the  donor;  he  receives  a copy  of  the  plans,  a photo 
of  the  building  when  completed  and  a grateful  letter 
of  acknowledgment  from  the  missionary  in  charge, 
with  the  assurance  of  his  prayers  and  those  of  his 
flock  at  every  Mass  celebrated  in  the  chapel. 

What  would  it  cost  to  establish  an  entire  mission 
station — chapel,  rectory,  school  and  convent?  H 

It  would  be  possible  to  erect  a modest  one  for  $2,000, 
and  God  alone  can  measure  the  merit  attained  by  one 
making  such  a generous  offering  as  this. 

What  class  of  people  contribute  most  to  the 
mission  cause? 

The  poor.  The  wealthy  give  very  little;  those  in  /! 
moderate  circumstances  are  generous;  but  the  bulk 
of  both  Societies  comes  from  poor  men,  women  and 


children,  who  appreciate  the  Faith  so  much  that  they 
are  willing  to  make  incredible  sacrifices  in  order  to  share 
it  with  others. 

Mention  some  of  the  sacrifices  made  by  the  poor. 

They  deny  themselves  delicacies  at  table,  clothes, 
amusements,  vacations,  etc.;  they  often  walk  to  and 
from  their  work  in  order  to  save  carfare;  after  a hard 
day’s  work  they  visit  their  friends  and  acquaintances 
to  interest  them  in  the  cause;  they  contribute  in  many 
cases  a certain  per  cent  of  their  wages. 

What  is  the  greatest  stimulus  to  mission  work  in 
Catholic  communities? 

Undoubtedly,  the  practical  sympathy  of  bishops  and 
priests  in  Christian  countries  determines  the  success 
or  failure  of  the  mission  aid  organizations,  for  the 
faithful  need  but  to  be  told  of  conditions  in  the  mission 
field  in  order  to  give  of  their  time  and  money  to  help 
the  cause. 

When  these  Societies  are  established  in  a parish, 
do  all  the  parishioners  join  them? 

No,  but  if  the  matter  is  kept  constantly  before  them, 
most  of  the  faithful  will  become  members,  as  experience 
has  proved. 


CHAPTER  V 

NATIVE  PRIESTS  AND  SISTERS. 

How  has  the  European  War  affected  the  missions? 

Many  missionaries  have  been  recalled  to  fight  for 
their  respective  countries;  all  help  from  Catholic 
Europe,  which  was  the  main  support  of  the  missions, 
has  been  cut  off;  food  stuffs  and  building  materials 
have  increased  in  price;  the  European  mission  semi- 
naries have  been  either  depleted  or  closed  entirely 
hence  there  will  be  a great  scarcity  of  missionaries. 

Will  the  war  affect  the  future  of  the  missions? 

Yes,  because  no  new  mission  fields  can  be  opened  and 
there  will  be  no  young  missionaries  (European)  to 
take  the  places  of  those  who  die  at  the  front. 

Is  there  no  way  to  remedy  the  situation? 

Yes,  by  establishing  more  native  seminaries. 

Are  there  not  already  many  native  seminaries? 

Yes,  but  the  number  is  not  sufficient  to  supply  the 
demand  for  native  priests. 

13 


Are  there  many  vocations  among  the  natives  in 
mission  countries? 

Yes,  the  number  is  very  large,  but  the  missionary 
bishops  and  priests  lack  the  means  of  educating  the 
young  men  and  women,  who  aspire  to  the  priesthood 
and  the  religious  life. 

Do  the  natives  make  good  missionaries? 

They  not  only  make  good  missionaries,  but  in  some 
respects  they  can  accomplish  more  than  foreign  mis- 
sionary priests  and  Sisters. 

What  is  the  reason  for  this? 

Native  missionaries  understand  the  language,  cus- 
toms and  dispositions  of  their  countrymen  far  better 
than  foreign  missionaries;  they  can  accommodate 
themselves  more  easily  to  the  mode  of  life,  especially 
of  the  poorer  classes. 

What  does  it  cost  to  educate  a native  seminarian? 

At  present,  fifty  dollars  a year  is  sufficient,  or  three 
hundred  dollars  for  the  entire  course — two  years  of 
philosophy  and  four  of  theology. 

Can  we  help  to  spread  the  Faith  in  any  better  way 
than  by  educating  native  seminarians? 

No,  for  it  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  amount  of 
good  that  even  one  priest  can  accomplish  among  his 
pagan  countrymen.  Every  Catholic,  who  can  possibly 
afford  it,  should  be  instrumental  in  placing  one  of  these 
native  priests  at  God’s  altar  in  thanksgiving  for  the  gift 
of  the  Faith. 

How  many  native  Priests  and  Sisters  are  there 
in  these  pagan  and  heathen  lands? 

China  has  about  800  native  priests  and  1 ,500  Sisters. 
India  has  double  that  number  both  of  native  priests  and 
Sisters. 


CHAPTER  VI 

OUR  DUTY 

Is  it  possible  for  the  National  Office  or  the  Dio- 
cesan Offices  to  respond  to  all  the  appeals 
received  from  missionaries? 

No,  not  more  than  ten  per  cent  of  them  can  be 
answered  owing  to  the  lack  of  funds  at  the  disposal  of 
those  who  make  the  distribution. 

14 


How  much  money  do  the  Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Faith  and  the  Association  of  the 
Holy  Childhood  send  to  the  missions  each 
year? 

During  1913,  the  former  sent  SI, 500, 000,  and  the 
latter,  $800,000.  Owing  to  the  present  unsettled  con- 
dition of  Europe  these  Societies  have  issued  no  general 
reports  for  1914  or  1915. 

How  does  this  compare  with  the  amount  dis- 
tributed by  non-Catholic  mission  aid  organi- 
zations? 

The  comparison  is  not  complimentary  to  us.  During 
1913,  the  combined  receipts  of  the  non-Catholic  mis- 
sion aid  organizations  was  $30,000,000.  Of  this  sum 
the  United  States  gave  $15,000,000.  For  1915  these 
figures  are  $36,000,000  and  $18,000,000,  respectively. 

What  did  the  United  States  contribute  to  the 
two  Societies  during  1913? 

To  the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith  we 
gave  $440,000;  to  the  Holy  Childhood,  $27,000. 
During  1915,  to  the  former  we  contributed  $500,000; 
to  the  latter,  $56,000. 

Why  do  non-Catholics  contribute  more  than 
Catholics  to  the  missions? 

Non-Catholics,  as  a rule,  are  more  wealthy  than 
Catholics.  It  is  not  an  uncommon  occurrence  for 
non-Catholic  mission  boards  to  receive  bequests  of 
thousands  of  dollars.  This  is  the  exception  for  Catholic 
mission  aid  societies. 

Non-Catholics  have  fewer  home  obligations,  for  ex- 
ample, they  have  no  schools  to  support. 

Has  Catholic  America  as  deep  an  interest  in  the 
work  of  the  Foreign  Missions  as  Catholic 
Europe? 

No,  because,  up  to  the  present  time,  she  has  been 
engaged  in  building  her  own  churches,  schools,  etc. 
Even  to-day  many  of  these  institutions  have  heavy 
debts.  Moreover,  Catholic  Missions  and  their  needs 
are  not  so  well  known  here  as  abroad. 

fs  practical  sympathy  for  the  mission  cause  in- 
creasing in  our  country? 

Yes,  and  the  prospect  for  the  future  is  bright.  May 
God  speed  the  day  when  every  diocese  shall  promote 
15 


the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith  and  the 
Holy  Childhood  as  the  three  great  Archdioceses  of  the 
East,  and  the  Diocese  of  Alban y are  doing! 

Are  we  in  duty  bound  to  support  the  missions? 

Yes.  Christ  commanded  the  Apostles  and  their 
successors  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature 
throughout  the  entire  world,  and  they  cannot  do  this 
without  material  assistance.  This  the  faithful  must 
supply.  It  is  their  part  in  the  great  work  of  winning 
the  pagan  and  heathen  world  to  Christ,  for  it  is  Our 
Lord’s  wish  that  in  this  work  every  Catholic — man, 
woman  and  child — should  co-operate. 

Should  we  not  wait  until  our  own  needs  are  satis- 
fied before  furnishing  aid  to  foreign  missions? 

If  we  wait  until  all  our  needs  are  satisfied,  we  shall 
never  help  the  missions.  Had  the  French  Catholics, 
who  assisted  us  when  we  were  in  need,  argued  thus,  we 
should  never  have  received  the  six  million  dollars  sent 
us  by  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith  Society.  In  fact, 
it  was  to  help  us  that  the  Society  was  first  established. 
If  the  missionaries  had  not  come  to  our  country  in  the 
days  of  the  Church’s  infancy,  many  of  our  grand- 
parents and  parents  would  have  died  without  the 
sacraments,  and  we  might  never  have  been  brought  up 
in  the  Faith. 

What  is  the  strongest  motive  prompting  us  to 
help  the  missions? 

It  is  undoubtedly  the  desire  to  share  with  others  the 
priceless  gift  that  we  ourselves  have  received  from  on 
high — the  Catholic  Faith.  We  should  be  grateful  to 
God  for  having  called  us  into  the  true  fold,  and  if  by 
lending  our  support  to  the  noble  cause  of  the  missions, 
we  are  responsible  for  the  salvation  of  others,  God 
will  bless  a hundred-fold  not  only  ourselves  but  our 
homes,  our  diocese  and  our  country.  Let  us  always 
keep  in  mind  the  words  of  Sacred  Scripture:  “He  who 
converteth  a brother  from  the  error  of  his  ways,  will 
save  his  soul  from  death  and  will  cover  a multitude  of 
sins.” 


1<» 


At  the  Diocesan  Headquarters  of  the 
Society  foi  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith 
and  the  Association  of  the  Holy  Child- 
hood on  Granby  Street,  visitor^  are  wel- 
come daily  from  8.30  to  5,  Saturdays  from 
8.30  to  1 and  evenings  by  appointment. 
Telephone  Back  Bay  5028.  Take  any 
Commonwealth  Ave.  car  except  the  one 
marked  “Limited.” 

Persons  who  desire  information 
about  the  Catholic  Foreign  Missions 
or  wish  to  help  the  cause  may  address 

REV.  JOSEPH  F.  McGLINCHEY,  D.D., 
25  Granby  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 


* * 


Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Faith, 
25  Granby  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 


